While homeowners have a gambit of heating and cooling options to choose from, the ductless heat pump is becoming one of the most popular. Sometimes used with a ductless mini-split air conditioner, the ductless heat pump works by moving warm air around, transferring heat via evaporation and condensation.
Despite not requiring a network of ducts, this system can manage both heating and cooling throughout your home. This is accomplished by adjusting how refrigerant flows between the indoor and outdoor units.
If you’re thinking of buying a ductless AC system, it’s important to consider the following:
Benefits of a Ductless Heat Pump
Mini splits are most advantageous because they can provide temperature control for individual rooms. As many as four indoor air handlers can be connected to the outdoor unit, creating zones so the temperature of specific rooms or floors can be adjusted according to your needs.
Ductless systems are also:
Relatively Easy to Install
For most systems, you only need a three-inch hole to fit the conduit that connects the outdoor and indoor units. They can be as far as 50 feet apart, allowing you to place compressor out of the way.
More Efficient
There is no ductwork, which a central forced air system requires to distribute conditioned air. If you want to avoid worrying about holes, poor connections, and leaks in ducts, which can lose up to 30% of air moving through them, then ductless is the way to go.
Flexible
Interior design flexibility is one of the greatest advantages. You can suspend air handlers from the ceiling, hang them on a wall, or even mount them flush with a drop ceiling. There are also floor-standing models; the typical indoor unit is about seven inches deep and has a neutral color yet high-tech look.
Easy to Control
Each indoor unit features its own thermostat. You can therefore customize the temperature in different parts of your home as you wish. For example, you can heat a living room but turn the unit in the bedroom off during the day, or vice versa. You can reverse the process in the summer to get cooler air in occupied rooms.
Long Lasting
Your investment can pay off over the long run because ductless heat pumps can last up to 20 years. Proper maintenance can maximize system longevity. Major components are often covered by warranties of anywhere from 5 to 10 years.
How Do I Know a Ductless Heat Pump Is Right for Me?
Ductless mini splits come in different sizes and capacities. You can therefore find one that is suited for your home and that best accommodates factors such as window size, ceiling height, and how may people live there. Room size, insulation, humidity, sun exposure, and Energy Star certification are other factors. Since there are so many options and factors to consider, there are many situations in which a ductless heat pump can be beneficial. Some of the ideal situations for one include the following:
- Your house has no ductwork, so you can avoid the expenses of installing it.
- To provide heating/cooling for a new addition, such as a sunroom or garage apartment.
- You want to heat and cool rooms you use and not empty ones.
- Different occupants have their own temperature preferences.
- You have a room that’s hard to heat/cool, like a small kitchen with a big oven.
Contact Sky Heating & Air Conditioning
A ductless heat pump can accommodate any sized home, in a warm or cool climate. Customers throughout the Portland, OR, area can trust us for help with heat pump installation, repair, and maintenance. Our technicians are fully licensed and insured, as well as qualified to provide any heat pump help you need. We’ll even find the right type and size of system and determine the ideal location for its components. Call 888-627-1257 to request your consultation today!